Other than Jatropha curcas, why is Pongamia pinnata also considered a good option for the production of bio- diesel in India? 1. Pongamia pinnata grows naturally in most of the arid regions of India 2. The seeds of Pongamia pinnata are rich in lipid content of which nearly half is oleic acid. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

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Correct answer: Both 1 and 2. Statement 1 is correct: Pongamia pinnata, also known as the Indian beech tree, grows naturally in arid and semi-arid regions of India. It is highly drought-tolerant, making it a suitable bio-diesel crop for areas with limited water availability. Statement 2 is correct: The seeds of Pongamia pinnata are rich in lipid content(oleic acid) which is a key component in the production of bio-diesel. The high oil yield from the seeds makes Pongamia a viable and sustainable bio-diesel source. Recently, it has been used for ethanol production. 377

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